Paper-clip.



No. 817,574. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

' J. KUSTER.

PAPER. CLIP.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.'I,1904.

I OSTA CAR D.

UNITED snares PATENT @FFICE PAPER-CLIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed December '7, 1904. Serial No. 235,870.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS Kiisrnn, a subj ect of the German Emperor, residing at Dortmund, lVestphalia, Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper-Clips, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to paper-clips for holding letter-paper, envelops, and other stationery while writing upon the same; and the object of the invention is the provision of such a device in which a firm and reliable clamping action is exerted upon the paper or cards to be retained, while the ready removal thereof is permitted when desired.

lVith these ends in view the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described, and recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved device. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective, drawn on a larger scale, showing the manner in which the clamping-springs are engaged by the releasing-lever.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

The improved paper-clip comprises in its construction a base or foundation-board a, made of pasteboard or other material pro viding a satisfactory writing-surface, and a clamping device for clamping the paper, post card, or other article upon the board, which is preferably arranged adjacent one end of the latter, as shown in Fig. 1. This clamping device is constituted by clamping-springs f, said springs being formed of substantially straight spring-wires passing at one end through the board or base and clenched upwardly against the bottom thereof. These clamping-springs preferably extend substantially parallel to the sides of the board and to each other, and each is bent intermediately to form an eye e which tends to force the free end of the spring against the base a. In addition to the connection at g the springs f are also maintained in position on the base by means of keepers h, constituted, preferably, by loops of suitable form driven into the base and clenched against the lower surface there of. At the free ends or terminals of the clamping-springs buttons or disks f are arranged, the lower faces of which are normally in engagement with the base, so that a postcard or other article interposed between said buttons and the base will be firmly maintained in position by the direct clamping action of the springs f, which bear toward the latter.

In order to permit of the ready and simultaneous release of the clamping-springs, a releasing-lever b is provided, which is constituted, preferably, by a single piece of wire bent intermediately to form divergent legs, so bent as to be pivoted intermediately by means of keepers or loops 0 to the board, as shown, the intermediate portion of said leverviz., that above said pivotbeing bent out of the plane of the other portion to form an upwardly-extending handle, as shown in Fig. 2. The lever 5 thus constitutes a single means for simultaneously raising the springs f. The free ends 6 of the releasing-lever b are bent outwardly at approximately right angles to the clamping-springs f and pass beneath the same immediately adjacent the buttons f, being provided upon their upper surfaces with small recesses e, which engage the springs f, and thus maintain the same against lateral displacement. It is therefore manifest that upon depressing the handle of the releasing-lever the free ends thereof are moved upwardly against the tension of the clamping-springs, thereby raising the clamping buttons and permitting the article to be inserted beneath the latter. Upon the release of the releasing-lever the buttons are forced against the article by the tension of the springs, and the same is thus firmly clamped upon the board or base. The paper, 800., may be readily'removed from the device after the lever-handle has again been depressed, as is obvious.

In order to insure the proper positioning of the card or other stationery, stops t, consti tuted by loops driven into the base and clenched against the bottom thereof, are provided. These stops are preferably disposed in a line extending between the clampingsprings, and in this manner the card is firmly clamped against the board and at the same time the lateral displacement thereof is prevented.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A paper-clip comprising a foundationboard or base, clamping-springs attached at one end to said base and constituted by substantially straight spring-wires disposed parallel to each other and bearing at their free ends toward said base, and a lever arranged between said springs and having portions which are disposed beneath the same and at substantially right angles thereto.

2. A device such as described comprising a base a, clamping-springs f attached at one end to said base and constituted by substantially straight spring-wires bearing at their free ends toward said base, a clamping-button f carried by the free end of each spring, and a pivoted lever 19 having its ends a dis posed beneath said springs.

3. In a paper-clip, the combination, with a base or foundation-board, of springs constituted by substantially straight spring-wires attached at one end to said base and bearing toward the same at their free ends, a clamping-button carried at the free end of each of said springs and normally in engagement with said base, and a releasing-lever embodying intermediately-pivoted divergent legs the free ends of which are interposed between said base and said. springs adjacent said buttons.

4. In a paper-clip, the combination, with a base or foundation-board, of springs attached at one end to the same and constituted by substantially straight spring-wires parallel to each other and to the sides of said base and bearing at their free ends toward said base, a clamping button or disk attached to the free end of each spring and having its face normally in engagement with said base, and a releasing-lever disposed between said springs and. embodying intermediately-pivoted divergent legs having their ends bent outwardly toward the sides of said base and disposed beneath said springs adjacent said buttons.

JULIUS KUSTER. 

